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B. H. ORAIGE,

TAMPER PROOF LABEL.

N0. 362,820. Patented May 10, 1887.

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EDVARD H. ORAIGE, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

TAMPER-PROOF LABEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,820, dated May 10, 1887.

Application filed August 5, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDlVARD H. Games, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tamper-Proof Labels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a label 011 which is stamped a designating number or mark, and which is so attached to the article to be designated thereby that said number or mark can not be altered or removed without destroying the label; and it consists in certain novel fea tures of construction fully pointed out in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a face view of my label. Fig. 2 is a cross section showing the method of attaching the same.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the article to which my label is to be attached. In it is formed a cavity, B, which is closed at the bottom and the sides of which are undercut at a, above the shoulder I). Tl1elabelO,which by preference is made of sheet metal, has an outwardlyilaring rim, 0, and is of such a size that it will drop into the cavity and rest on the shoulder Z) in the cavity B. By means of proper tools the label is then swelled until the flaring rim passes into the undercut portion of the cavity. The operation of swelling or spreading the label into the under-cut,if properly performed, will not deface the surface of the same; but after the same has once been swelled into the place it cannot again be removed without destroying its shape.

lVhen the label is flat, the cavity B is made deeper in the center, so that the rim of the label will rest on the shoulder 12 only, and the central portion thereof will be unsupported; but, if desired, the bottom of the cavity may be flat and the label may be of a crowning shape; or both the concave cavity and a convex label may be used together, as shown in the drawings.

The object of this invention is to preserve the proof of identity of an individual article among others of its kind by securing to it a tamper-proof label which is provided with a Serial No. 210,102. lNomodel.)

private or distinguishing mark; and it is espc cially useful when goods or machinery are loaned or rentedsuch as pianos or sewingmachincs. For purposes of identification it is now customary to mark such property by numbers or other private marks; butas thcsenunr bers are often changed by adding others or obliterated altogether by dishonest persons, it is often very difficult to prove ownership, and the property is lost to the rightful owner. As these alterations in the private marks are not easily discoverable by an unsuspecting buyer, it is comparatively easy for the thief to dispose of the borrowed or rented property with but little danger of discovery.

The label here described is first provided with the desired marks or numbers, preferably by stamping with a die, and ist'hcn secured in the cavity formed in some conspicuous place say the cloth-plate of a sewing-machine-as above described. The label cannot be removed without completely destroying its shape, nor can the marks or numbers on its surface be obliterated or added to without a solid support at the point where such tampering is attempted, and,as the label is not supported at that point, and it being impossible to supply any such support, as the under side of the label is inaccessible, a label is provided which will greatly add to the security of rented or loaned goods or machinery.

Heretofore the glass label for a hollow drawerknob has been secured by placing it on an annular shoulder inside the knob and screwing an annular flange on the exterior of the knob, so as to overlie the edge of the label. In another instance an organ-stop knob has been provided with a cavity containing the'lettered or numbered plate, which is held therein bya split ring sprung into an annular groove in the knob adjacent to the outside of the plate; and in another instance an organ-stop knob has been provided with a cavity containing an annular groove in its wall,into which is sprung the edge of a flat numbered or lettered plate centrally supported at its inside by a block of wood. Such constructions do not constitute my invention, and are not claimed by me.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with an article, A,hav

ing a cavity, 13, provided with an undercut internal side, a, of the designating-label O, having an outwardly-flaring rim, 0, swelled into engagement with the undercut side of the cavity of the article, leaving thelabel entirely unsupported at its center, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with an article, A, having a cavity, B, provided with the internal shoulder b and the undercut internal side, a, above said shoulder, of the designating-label 0, having an outwardly-flaring rim, a, resting on the shoulder and swelled into engagement with the undercut side of the said cavity, leaving the label entirely unsupported atits center,

' substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with an article, A, having a cavity, B, provided with an undercut internal side, a, of the concavo-convex designating metallic label 0, formed with an outwardlyflaring rim, 0, swelled into engagement with the undercut side of the said cavity, leaving the label entirely unsupported at its center, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD H. GRAIGE. [n s.] 

